When buying TaxAct Deluxe, does it cover just one tax season or can multiple users file?

I'm planning to buy tax software for my family before we tackle our 2024 returns and I've been looking at TaxAct Deluxe. But I'm confused about what I'd actually be getting. If I purchase TaxAct Deluxe, is it something I can use for just this upcoming tax season, or could I use it for multiple years? Also, I'm wondering if the license allows multiple users - like could both me and my wife use it to file separate returns, or would we each need to buy our own copy? My brother said he bought it last year but I can't remember what he told me about this. Just trying to figure out the best option cost-wise for our situation. We don't have super complicated taxes but definitely need more than the free version. Thanks for any info!

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20 comments

Miranda Singer

•8M

TaxAct Deluxe licenses are generally just for one tax year (the current filing season), but you can file multiple returns depending on how you purchase it. If you buy the downloadable software, you can typically prepare and file up to 5 federal returns, but you'll need to pay separately for each state return you file. If you're using the online version, it's usually limited to one federal and one state return per purchase. So if you and your wife need to file separately, you might need to purchase another copy for the second return if using the online version. The software will only work for the current tax year (2024 taxes that you'll file in 2025). Next year, you'd need to purchase the new version for filing 2025 taxes. They update the forms and tax law changes each year, so the previous year's software becomes outdated.

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Miranda Singer

•8M

You're right to ask about amending previous years' returns. The 2024 version of TaxAct won't let you amend 2023 returns. For amending a 2023 return, you would need the 2023 version of the software. You might be able to still purchase the previous year's version from TaxAct's website, as they often sell older versions specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, you could also look into their amendment services, where you can sometimes pay a fee to file an amendment through their system even if you didn't originally use their software for that return.

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Finley Garrett

•8M

Just wanted to share my experience using taxr.ai https://taxr.ai after I had similar questions about tax software. I was confused about what software to buy and if I needed different versions for my side gig income. The site actually helped me figure out exactly what forms I needed and which software package would cover them all. I uploaded screenshots of my previous year's return and some current tax documents, and it basically mapped out what I needed. Super helpful before I spent money on the wrong software package! It even flagged some deductions I would have missed related to my side hustle that the basic versions of most software wouldn't have prompted me for.

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Finley Garrett

•8M

The document analysis basically scans your tax forms and identifies what schedules and forms you'll need to file based on the information. It's pretty straightforward - you just upload images of your documents and it identifies them and gives recommendations. As for knowing it's giving the right advice, I was skeptical too. But it's actually using the same IRS rules that all tax software uses - it just helps identify what applies to your specific situation before you commit to a software package. I cross-referenced its recommendations with TaxAct's comparison chart and everything matched up. It's not actually filing anything for you, just helping you understand what you need.

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Madison Tipne

•8M

I tried taxr.ai after posting here and it was actually pretty helpful! I uploaded my 1099s from my investment accounts and it immediately identified that I would need Schedule D and Form 8949 support. Turns out the Deluxe version of TaxAct would work for me after all - saved me from upgrading to Premium unnecessarily. Also flagged that I should look for crypto tax support since I had some trades last year, which I completely forgot about. Definitely made choosing the right tax software package easier!

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Malia Ponder

•8M

If you're having trouble figuring out the right TaxAct package and need to call them with questions, I'd recommend using Claimyr https://claimyr.com to get through to their customer service faster. I tried calling TaxAct support directly last filing season to ask about multi-state filing and was on hold for over an hour before giving up. Used Claimyr and got a callback in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Their customer service confirmed that the Deluxe download lets you file multiple federal returns but each state is separate, and the licenses are definitely just for one tax year. They also explained some bundle options I didn't know about that saved me some money.

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Malia Ponder

•8M

It's not special access to TaxAct specifically - they work with a bunch of hard-to-reach companies. What they do is use technology to navigate phone trees and wait on hold for you, then they call you when they reach a human. I had the same reaction at first, but it's actually just automating the hold process. You're right that you could just wait on hold yourself, but that might mean an hour or more of your phone tied up while listening to hold music. I was skeptical too until I tried it, but it saved me a ton of time. Nothing sketchy about it - they're just waiting in the queue for you.

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Ryder Ross

•8M

Well I'm eating my words now. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr for myself when I needed to contact TaxAct about transferring my previous year's data. Got a call back in about 20 minutes vs the "estimated wait time" of over 2 hours. The TaxAct rep confirmed that their Deluxe download version allows up to 5 federal returns but each state costs extra, and it's definitely just for the current tax year. Also found out they offer a discount for returning customers which might help OP. Have to admit it actually worked better than I expected!

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Landon Flounder

•25d

Thanks everyone for the detailed responses! This is exactly what I needed to know. Sounds like the downloadable TaxAct Deluxe will work perfectly for our situation - being able to do up to 5 federal returns with one purchase means my wife and I can both file without buying separate copies. The state filing fees are something I hadn't considered, but that's still more cost-effective than buying two full software packages. I'm definitely going to check out those retail options too - saving $15 at Costco would be great. And @Finley Garrett, that taxr.ai suggestion is interesting. I might upload our documents first just to double-check that Deluxe will handle everything we need before I purchase. Really appreciate all the real-world experiences shared here. This community is incredibly helpful!

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Zoe Papanikolaou

•13d

Welcome to the community! Just wanted to add that if you do end up needing to contact TaxAct support for any reason (like if you run into issues with the multiple returns), don't forget about that Claimyr service @Malia Ponder mentioned. I was skeptical at first too but it really does save time when you need to talk to someone. Also, make sure to keep your purchase receipt - TaxAct sometimes offers upgrade discounts if you need to move to a higher tier mid-season. Hope the Deluxe version works out perfectly for you and your wife!

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